Premier League clubs spent more than £185million during the last January transfer window.

Newcastle were the country's most profligate club, shelling out close to £33million in an unsuccessful bid to avoid relegation.

Their failure should act as a warning to managers with similar intentions for January 2017, although we still expect to see a year-on-year increase in the total money spent by England's top tier sides.

But how well did last January's perform in their first year? Here, MirrorFootball evaluates the 15 biggest Premier League signings from the last winter window.

Premier League January transfer window spending

Mohamed Elneny (Basel to Arsenal)

Fee: £5million

Brought in to provide competition for Francis Coquelin, Elneny has represented brilliant value in an inflated market. The Egyptian settled in quickly to both Arsenal and the Premier League and has looked solid if unspectacular in his first year. He has proven himself to be a reliable all-rounder and capped a strong first year with a goal away to Barcelona in the Champions League.

Verdict: Hit

Mohamed Elneny scores against Barcelona (Image: AFP/Getty)

Lamine Kone (Lorient to Sunderland)

Fee: £6million

Sunderland were second bottom of the Premier League when, last January, they spent more than £15million improving their squad. Kone joined from Lorient at the end of the window and has been, in hindsight, an excellent signing. The Black Cats have built their defence around the Ivorian, who was close to leaving in the summer.

Nordin Amrabat (Malaga to Watford)

Fee: £6.1million

One of three big signings to move to Vicarage Road at the beginning of the year. While Amrabat has been more successful than the other two, he has failed to convince many fans. The former Malaga winger has chipped in with three assists in 18 league appearances this season and established himself in Walter Mazzarri's first XI, but you won't find many Watford fans getting his name on the back of their shirts.

Verdict: Jury's out

Nordin Amrabat shoots at goal (Image: Getty)

Lewis Grabban (Norwich to Bournemouth)

Fee: £7million

After an unhappy spell at Norwich, Lewis Grabban returned to Bournemouth, the club he enjoyed two successful years with prior to his time at Carrow Road. His move, however, has not been the catalyst for a return to form. He made 16 appearances for the Cherries last season without finding the back of the net and has moved further down the pecking order now that Callum Wilson has returned from injury. His first and only goal since rejoining Bournemouth came against Preston in a September EFL Cup match, nine months after his move.

Verdict: Miss

Lewis Grabban has been disappointing for Bournemouth (Image: Bryn Lennon/Getty)

Alberto Paloschi (Chievo to Swansea)

Fee: £8million

Paloschi made just 10 appearances for the Swans in the second half of the 2015/16 season. The Italian scored twice but did not do enough to convince either his manager or fans he deserved a place in the team. Paloschi looked unsuited to the Premier League and was sold (at a loss) to Atalanta during the summer.

Verdict: Miss

Alberto Paloschi scored twice before being sold (Image: Stu Forster/Getty)

Abdoulaye Doucoure (Rennes to Watford)

Fee: £8million

Doucoure failed to make a single appearance during his first season at Watford and was loaned to Granada for the final months of 2015/16. He finally made his debut in the 2-1 defeat at Chelsea in August, but has only featured once since then. Another loan beckons.

Verdict: Miss

Abdoulaye Doucoure made his debut against Chelsea (Image: Darren Walsh)

Steven Naismith (Everton to Norwich)

Fee: £8.5million

Considering Steven Naismith had managed just five goals for Everton in the first half of the season — three of them coming in one game — he seemed an unusual signing for club who badly needed goals to keep them in the Premier League. Naismith failed to find the net in his first season with the Canaries and they were subsequently relgated.

Verdict: Miss

Norwich Steven Naismith in action against his former club (Image: PA)

Wahbi Khazri (Bordeaux to Sunderland)

Fee: £9million

Wahbi Khazri polarises opinion. One minute he's scoring stunning goals and the next he's tripping himself up while attempting a rabona. His stats at Sunderland are not particularly impressive but he has added creativity and flair to a squad that is lacking in both. At 25, he has time to improve and the Black Cats are unlikely to lose money on him should they decide to sell.

Timm Klose (Wolfsburg to Norwich)

Fee: £9million

Timm Klose couldn't prevent Norwich's relegation to the Championship and, at £9million, was not cheap — but he has shown he is more than good enough to play for the club. The 28-year-old defender was linked with a move away during the summer and Switzerland's manager has encouraged Klose to switch clubs in January.

Benik Afobe (Wolves to Bournemouth)

Fee: £10m

Benik Afobe is clearly a talented player. The former Arsenal youth striker shone for both MK Dons and Wolves before earning a move to the Premier League. Afobe's move felt like a positive step but he has failed to develop in the manner expected. His first four games for Bournemouth brought three goals and he managed one more before the end of the season. He has struggled in 2016/17, though, and has netted just twice in 17 appearances.

Verdict: Jury's out

Benik Afobe in action with Leicester City's Wes Morgan

Andros Townsend (Spurs to Newcastle)

Fee: £13.35million

Newcastle spent big on Andros Townsend in the hope he could guide them to safety, it didn't work but he performed well on a personal level. Townsend may be a limited, relatively one-dimensional player but he provided two assists and four goals in 13 appearances, which was enough to earn him a move to Crystal Palace in the summer.

Verdict: Hit

Andros Townsend played well as Newcastle were relegated last season (Image: AFP/Getty)

Oumar Niasse (Lokomotiv Moscow to Everton)

Fee: £13.5million

Seven appearances, no goals, no assists. That's what Everton got for £13.5million. Oumar Niasse's signing and subsequent exile at Everton will go down as one of the strangest transfers in Premier League history. At the beginning of 2016/17, Niasse revealed he was training with the under-23 side and didn't even have a locker at the club. Niasse says he want to stay at Everton, but it is clear he has no future there.

Verdict: Miss

Everton's Oumar Niasse on his debut (Image: PA)

Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea to Newcastle)

Fee: 13.6million

Whatever Newcastle thought Jonjo Shelvey would add to their squad, he hasn't brought it. He chipped in with three assists as Newcastle went down last season but his performances more often leave you wondering about lost potential than marvelling at his talent. The recent racism storm has done little to improve his, or the club's, reputation.

Verdict: Miss

Jonjo Shelvey has found himself in trouble recently (Image: 2016 Getty Images)

Gianelli Imbula (Porto to Stoke)

Fee: £18.3million

The most expensive signing of the 2016 winter transfer window found the back of the net in just his second game for Stoke, scoring in a 3-1 win away at Bournemouth. Imbula has struggled to recreate the form that saw him catch the attention of numerous European clubs when he was at Porto, but it's clear he is a talented player. He has struggled for motivation and fitness in 2016/17, and has seen less game time as a result, but Mark Hughes has a brilliant player in the 24-year-old, if he can find a way to get the best out of him.